WASHINGTON: US special forces teams are currently stationed in five South Asian countries including India as part of the counter-terrorism cooperation with these nations, a top Pentagon commander has disclosed.

These teams have been deployed by US Pacific Command as part of its effort to enhance their counter-terrorism capabilities, in particular in the maritime domain, Admiral Robert Willard, the PACOM Commander said on Thursday.

"We have currently special forces assist teams - Pacific assist teams is the term - laid down in Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, as well as India," Willard told lawmakers at a Congressional hearing in response to a question on co-operation with India on counter-terrorism issues.

"We are working very closely with India with regard to their counter-terrorism capabilities and in particular on the maritime domain but also government to government, not necessarily DOD (department of defence) but other agencies assisting them in terms of their internal counter-terror and counterinsurgency challenges," Willard said.

Willard said, Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (Let) is a very dangerous organisation. It not only has very good operational security, but also a lot of international design in terms of their aspirations.

"So it is a very important threat, and we're working very closely with the nations in the region to help contain it," he said.

The PACOM commander was responding to a question from Congressman Joe Wilson as to what effort is being made to counter threat from LeT.

In his prepared statement, Willard told lawmakers that the US and India are working together on contain LeT.

"Responsible for many attacks in India, including the horrific attacks into Mumbai, LeT is headquartered in Pakistan, affiliated with al-Qaida and other VEOs, and contributes to terrorist operations in Afghanistan and aspires to operate against Asia, Europe and North America," Willard said.

He said Pacific Command's Indian Engagement Initiative that resourced and hosted Mumbai counter terrorist specialists for training exercises and exchanges throughout the US, together with capacity-building activities with South Asian partners are mainly focused on containing LeT and contributing to counter-terrorism self-sufficiency of the sub-region's militaries.

India today rejected a top US military commanderâ€™s statement that American Special Forces were deployed in various South Asian countries including India. The Defence Ministry was responding to a statement made by Admiral Robert Willard, the PACOM Commander who had said that American Special Forces teams are currently stationed in India as part of the counter-terrorism cooperation. â€œThe report is factually incorrect in so far as reference to India is concerned,â€ Defence Ministry said in a release. â€œUS Special Forces Teams have never been stationed in India in the past, nor are such teams stationed in the country presently,â€ the release said here. Willard had told American law makers yesterday that, â€œWe have currently special forces assist teams â€“ Pacific assist teams is the term â€“ laid down in Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, as well as India.â€

WASHINGTON/NEW DELHI: US special forces are based in India and four other South Asian countries, a Pentagon commander has said. India quickly denied hosting American troops on its soil.

The US and India are working together to contain Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, blamed for the 2008 Mumbai attack, US Pacific Commander Admiral Robert Willard told a Congressional hearing Thursday.

The teams were deployed to help India in counter-terrorism, in particular in the maritime domain, Willard said.

"We have currently special forces assist teams - Pacific assist teams is the term - laid down in Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Maldives as well as India," Willard said.

"We are working very closely with India with regard to their counter-terrorism capabilities and in particular on the maritime domain but also government to government, not necessarily department of defence but other agencies assisting them in terms of their internal counter-terror and counterinsurgency challenges."

The Indian government challenged the statement.

The defence ministry said Willard's claim that US special teams were based in India was "factually incorrect".

"The report is factually incorrect in so far as the reference to India is concerned," a defence ministry spokesperson said in New Delhi.

"US special forces teams have never been stationed in India in the past, nor are such teams stationed in the country presently," he said.

Admiral Willard said Lashkar-e-Taiba was a "very dangerous organisation... so it is a very important threat, and we're working very closely with the nations in the region to help contain it".

The group was "responsible for many attacks in India, including the horrific attacks into Mumbai" of November 2008 that left 166 Indians and foreigners dead.

He said the Lashkar-e-Taiba was headquartered in Pakistan, affiliated with Al Qaeda "and contributes to terrorist operations in Afghanistan and aspires to operate against Asia, Europe and North America".

Together with capacity-building activities with South Asian partners this was mainly focused on containing LeT and contributing to counter-terrorism self-sufficiency of the sub-region's militaries, Willard said.

Anchored by India and containing major sea line of communication for the transport of energy and other commerce to Asia and the America from the Middle East and Europe, South Asia security partnerships were increasingly vital to Pacific Command's mission, he said.

South Asia is home to a confluence of challenges, including nuclear armed India and Pakistan, numerous transnational groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, piracy, trafficking in narcotics and persons, disputed borders, and insurgent movements that have plagued India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, Willard said.

Is India training together with US Special Forces for Af-Pak specific operations?

Or New Delhi is telling the truth?

Or Pentagon Commander is just boasting?

Click to expand...

hope its true and am anxious to see Pakistan response to this news

But I feel that it might be taken out of context, I think that the General meant that there were people at the intelligence level working with their Indian counter parts in India or there might be special forces instructors not actual solders with guns waiting to respond to an attack.... I think the quotes below might prove my point

"We have currently special forces assist teams - Pacific assist teams is the term - laid down in Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Maldives as well as India,"

"The teams were deployed to help India in counter-terrorism, in particular in the maritime domain"

probably some experts on maritime security that are helping set up infrastructure. one might see this as normal exchange of military and intelligence personnel